Halifax DT551 at Wombleton airfield.
The Halifax crashed whilst landing on the trainee pilot's first dual control circuits and landings flight with 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit on 17th May 1944. The exercise began at 10.05hrs and at 11.30hrs, whilst on a short final approach to land and whilst flying in a slight cross wind, the starboard wing dropped which the pilot corrected but the port wheel contacted the ground very hard. This strike caused the oleo leg to collapse resulting in a ground loop. A small fire broke out but this was put out and the crew of eight were not injured. The collapse was investigated and it was found that a crack in port undercarriage had gone un-noticed and this hard landing had been too much for it. The names of the instructor and the pupil pilot are taken from the AM Form 1180 where as the full crew list is not confirmed though the others named were (in the main) in the pupil pilot's crew when he arrived at 1666 HCU in early May 1944 so it is likely that they were with him when this incident occurred. The unit record book states that it was their first training flight since arrival. All were with the pilot when he was posted out to 420 Squadron on 13th June 1944.
Halifax DT551 was built to Contract B982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered to 405 Squadron at Topcliffe in early October 1942 where it had a brief stay. It was transferred to 1659 HCU at Leeming on 24th October 1942 and suffered a Cat.B/FA damage in an accident there on 23rd January 1944. From there it was dismantled and removed to the Y.A.R.D. for repair. On completion of the repair it was issued to 1666 H.C.U. at Wombleton in early May 1944 and was written off following the incident detailed above with Cat.E2/FA damage although initially it must have been deemed repairable as the AM1180 gives the damage to the airframe as Cat.B, along with the two port engines. The starboard engines were undamaged.
Instructor - F/O Edward Chester Stewart DFM RCAF (J/17000).
Pupil Pilot - F/O Gordon Lachlan Heron RCAF (J/27687).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ritchie.
Flight Engineer - Sgt E S Kenwright RAFVR (2205643).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt James S Beetham RCAF (R/183519).
Bomb Aimer - F/O J L Balmer RCAF (J/28969).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Robinson Archibald RCAF (R/223627).
Air Gunner - Sgt H G Beeks / Becks RCAF (R/221129).
John Archibald's brother Lewis Percival Archibald RCAF had served with 426 Squadron and was killed on 16th / 17th December 1943 when Lancaster DS846 crashed on Ops to Berlin.
Edward Stewart was born in February 1917 in Holden, Alberta and lived in Camrose, Alberta where he was working as a miner when he enlisted for RCAF service in Edmonton in February 1941. He was awarded the DFM for service with 78 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th May 1943 after he had been posted to instruct. The citation reads.. "This airman has taken part in many operational sorties and at all times has shown determination of the highest order. He has recently been engaged in attacks against some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany and has secured some excellent photographs. Invariably, Flight Sergeant Stewart's fine qualities have been a source of inspiration to his crew." He received a commission in February 1943 and later was awarded the DFC for completing a Tour with 427 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th July 1945 but not presented to his family until November 1949. Hugh Halliday's research into RCAF awards has located the recommendation for his DFC dates 19th March 1945 when he had flown a total of forty operational flights but spilt between 1658 HCU (three Ops on 10th September 1942, 23rd & 24th October 1942), 78 Squadron (25 Ops between 8th November 1942 to 19th February 1943) and 427 Squadron (16 Ops between 17th December 1944 to 14th March 1945). The recommendation reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Stewart has successfully completed a large number of sorties against such heavily defended enemy targets as Dusseldorf, Hanover, Ludwigshaven and Berlin. His work as deputy flight commander both in the air and on the ground has been of the highest order and his courage in the face of the fiercest opposition has been an inspiring example not only to his own crew but to all who have served with him." He returned home to Canada after the War but was killed in a Dakota crash at Estevan, Saskatchewan on 15th September 1946. He is buried in Holden Cemetery, Alberta. I credit Hugh Halliday's RCAF awards research used to compile his and Gordon Heron's biography.
Sgt Beeks (or Becks) arrived with this crew to 1666 HCU but he left to be repatriated on posting to "R" Depot on 19th June 1944. F/Sgt Fox replaced him as the mid upper gunner of this regular crew and then left with them when they departed to 420 Squadron. F/O Heron and crew would later ditch a Halifax off Whitby, Yorkshire (with 1666 HCU) a week after this mishap at Wombleton and while with 420 Squadron their aircraft collided in mid-air with another aircraft over France on 18th July 1944 (listed in the pilot's DFC citation).
Gordon Heron was born in Victoria in 1914 and enlisted in Vancouver in April 1942 receiving a commission in 1943. After completing he training he was posted to 420 Squadron. He completed a Tour with 420 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 16th February 1945. Hugh Halliday's research into RCAF awards has located the recommendation for the DFC dated 9th November 1944 after his thirty five flights having flown just over 171 hours, it reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Heron has completed numerous successful sorties against the German and occupied targets. Despite stiffest opposition from combined enemy defences, this officer has invariably pressed home his attacks with coolness and determination. His enthusiasm for operational duties and his constant request to be on any and all sorties are highly commendable." He was also awarded two French medals; the Legion of Honour on 12th March 1948 and the Croix de Guerre on 19th October 1945. The recommendation for the latter refers to a specfic incident which his crew were involved. It reads.."This officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack enemy troop concentrations in the Caen area on the morning of 17th July 1944. Just after their bombs were released, their aircraft collided with another bomber causing extensive damage to their own aircraft and making it extremely difficult to control. A few minutes later, while still over the target area, Flight Lieutenant Heron was engaged by very accurate heavy flak and suffered further damage to the fuselage and mid-upper turret. Realizing the consequences of abandoning the aircraft in that area and subsequent danger of crashing among our own troops, this officer displayed outstanding coolness and fortitude in struggling back to England with his damaged aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Heron has taken part in many raids on military targets in occupied France, and his care and precision in bombing, together with his inspiring gallantry, have greatly contributed to the liberation of our French allies."
